Cross-border Marriage

No fewer than three-quarters of all Turkish and Moroccan people living in the Netherlands who are looking to marry, find a marriage partner in their country of origin. This is a striking fact, both politically and scientifically. It raises questions about future migratory flows, integration and the way in which people select a partner.
This publication sets out the facts in relation to cross-border marriage. It brings clarity to the many statistics circulating on this subject and offers new insights into developments and differences between generations.
Specifically, the report answers the question of why so many Turks and Moroccans in the Netherlands choose a partner from outside the country. To establish why this is, young Turks and Moroccans were also interviewed. The many quotes paint a lively picture of the way in which contemporary young Turks and Moroccans in the Netherlands approach relationships. They are young people who are clearly in search of their own style. As one interviewee puts it, 'Somewhere between the style of our parents with a European tint and the European style with a hint of tradition'.